Corporate Finance Director

About Degas

Degas' mission is "Changing people’s lives, dramatically." We are an innovative AI technology company focused on developing scalable, AI-driven global products that address the world’s greatest challenges. Alongside our most advanced tech products, we also have dedicated operations that increase the income of smallholder farmers in Africa and beyond, leveraging our expertise in data aggregation, AI credit scoring, satellite observations, financing, and carbon markets. This dual approach enables us to make a global impact while delivering tangible benefits to developing countries.

About the Role

The Corporate Finance Director / Manager is a critical leadership role driving Degas' financial strategy. This role involves spearheading equity and debt fundraising initiatives, both domestically and internationally, including pitching, financial modeling, due diligence, term negotiations, and closing to accelerate the company’s growth Additionally, the Corporate Finance Director / Manager will collaborate closely with the team members of the Japan headquarters and Ghana subsidiary to manage finance operations, including budget creation and monitoring, cash flow management, and overall financial and accounting activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of equity and debt fundraising initiatives, including pitching, financial modeling, due diligence, refurbishing pitch decks, term negotiations, and closing, both domestically and internationally.
• Lead the application for grant programs and manage grant funds, ensuring compliance and effective use of funds.
• Collaborate with the executive leadership team to communicate and implement long-term business strategies, ensuring alignment with financial goals and forecasts.
• Prepare and present detailed financial models, investor materials, and strategic reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Strengthen relationships with current and potential investors, providing regular updates on business and financial performance and growth prospects.
• Manage overall financial and accounting operations, ensuring compliance with regulations and optimizing financial procedures.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities, implementing strategies to mitigate risks while maximizing growth opportunities across global operations.
• Develop comprehensive business and financial strategies in accordance with Degas’ long-term goals and guide decision-making on prioritization and resource allocation.
• Oversee budget planning and monitoring, financial analysis, and cash flow management to ensure financial stability and appropriate capital allocation to support growth initiatives.
• Assess global entity structuring options for Degas Group and oversee and execute the relevant legal activities.

You Could Be a Great Fit for This Role If You Have:

• 5+ years of experience in senior finance and investment roles.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field. An advanced degree (e.g., MBA) or professional certifications (e.g., CFA, CPA) are a plus, but not required.
• Proven track record in senior finance and investment roles.
• Proven track record of raising funds with significant experience in raising millions of dollars through equity and/or debt financing.
• Proven track record in investing, particularly in the field of tech and nature-based solutions in emerging markets.
• Strong experience in developing and executing business financial strategies that drive business growth and operational efficiency.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build and develop a high-performing Finance team.
• Deep understanding of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Deep commitment to transforming the lives of smallholder farmers in developing countries through innovative technology and finance.
• Native level proficiency in English and Japanese.

Encouragement to Apply

Even if some of the qualifications mentioned above don't align perfectly with your experience, we still want to hear from you! We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single qualification listed.

Location

This role is REMOTE (with a strong preference for Tokyo, Japan), with travel required to potential investor offices worldwide, Degas’ HQ in Tokyo, Degas’ regional offices and partner sites as needed.

Compensation

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Comprehensive benefits package.

How We’re Different

• Degas is committed to the mission of "Changing people’s lives, dramatically" as an impact-oriented, for-profit startup. Degas has achieved 2x year-over-year revenue growth for the past three years and has established a profitable farmer financing business. In 2023 alone, we doubled the incomes of over 26,000 smallholder farmers in Africa, as verified by a third-party assessment.
• We leverage both advanced and 'primitive' technologies, from GPUs for state-of-the-art foundation models to offline-enabled mobile apps for data aggregation in rural areas of developing countries.
• We prioritize long-term thinking, investing in technology, operations, and people to change the world in ways no one has ever done before.

Support

If you have a condition or require an adjustment to our interview process - please let us know so we can make adjustments to support you. Degas is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by law.